|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 15 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Three wheeler import ban up in smoke? by NEOMI KODIKARA "Three wheelers" or "trishaws," as they are also known, have become an inescapable part of Colombo's landscape. While these ubiquitous vehicles cater to a significant segment of the city population's transport needs, the stark reality is that they represent one of the biggest sources of air pollution in the city.
Colombo's three wheelers (also referred to as "Bajaj," indicating the predominance of that particular make) run on high-pollutant-emitting two-stroke petrol engines. While proposals have been made by the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry to ban the future import of two-stroke engine three wheelers, there appears to be a powerful corporate lobby bent on scuttling the move. Those opposed to the ban include David Pieris Motor Company (DPMC), the main importer of three wheelers to Sri Lanka, and a recently formed "Three Wheeler Drivers' Association" (TWDA) which has received funding to the tune of Rs. 200,000 each from DPMC and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, (30 per cent of whose petrol market comprises three wheelers). Funding has also been given by Caltex, Asian Finance and Lanka Orix Leasing Company, according to the president of the TWDA, Lalith Dharmasekera Vithanage. Two-stroke engines pass as much as one-third of the fuel they use unburned, making them the largest source of toxic hydrocarbon emissions, according to the Air Resources Manaagement Centre (AirMac) of the Environment ministry. They emit 10100 metric tons of hydrocarbon anually. These high levels of Particulate Matter (PM) are a bigger source of pollution than any other toxic emissions. PM can cause conditions leading to premature death and a variety of respiratory diseases, ranging from colds and flu to asthma, pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. Every year around 800,000 people worldwide die prematurely from illness caused by outdoor air pollution and 150,000 of them are from South Asia. AirMac has proposed three steps to reduce vehicle emissions and their impact on public health: 1) eliminating lead additives from petrol, 2) reducing diesel sulphur content and 3) banning further import of two-stroke vehicles. The first two proposals have already got off the ground. The proposed ban on three wheelers would only affect future imports, and not three wheeler drivers whose vehicles are already in the country. However the TWDA which was formed in March 2002 (shortly after the ban was proposed) staged a demonstration attended by about 500 demanding the withdrawal of the proposals. Its president Vithanage vowed that the drivers of the Association would go on a "fast unto death" if the ban was imposed. However most three wheeler drivers that the Sunday Observer spoke to on the streets said that there should be some restriction on imports. Colombo is flooded with three wheelers and their income has dropped as a result of the competition, they said. Currently 169,319 of the 2,066,003 vehicles in Sri Lanka are three wheelers, and around 3000 are added to this number each month, according to the Departrment of Motor Traffic. "Unless the government intervenes and restricts the imports, we will have to give up this job and go begging on streets," said Suranga Fernando from Kollonnawa, who parks in a stand near the Colombo National Hospital. "I came here around six in the morning, and till now (it was around 3.00 pm) I could earn only Rs. 150, I have to give Rs. 200 to the owner and run a family of four," said Ruwan Sanjeewa, who parks near Borella bus-stand. Many three wheeler drivers are suspicious of the TWDA, saying it might swindle lakhs of funds collected from members as admission fees (Rs. 100) and membership fees (Rs. 200 monthly), as it is not accountable to anyone. Rajakaruana (55), who is in the trade for over 20 years strongly opposed the Association saying, "It's a fake. We have no clear vision of its future. It is not registered anywhere yet, but they are charging admission fee, membership fee, this fee and that. It is said to be in operation for one and half years now, but nothing has been done for our welfare. They did not even hold an election for any of the offices. It is very undemocratic," he charged. Vithanage said that they did not want to make the TWDA a trade union, "but we will register it in due course." There was no need to go for an election as the members unanimously agreed and inducted them as office bearers, he said. He further claimed that it is the mushrooming cab services that had affected the three wheeler industry. The TWDA speaks of "changing the public perception of three wheelers and drivers" by reorganising and disciplining the system'. Among its plans are the introduction of a standard uniform for drivers, insurance cover and identification stickers for three-wheelers (in addition to the two kinds of numbering systems already given by the police). However the Association is opposed to a metering system, which is one of the key benefits that passengers might hope to expect from such an association, in order to protect them from arbitrary and unreasonably high fares. "There is no standard rate for any product or service in the open market, so why only worry about three wheelers?", asks Vithanage. "Before bringing in a metering system, the government should solve our problems." A spokesman for DPMC, the main importer of three wheelers to the country, told the Sunday Observer that a ban or restriction on imports will affect over 1.5 million in the trade already, and nearly 60,000 of newcomers every year. The company sells around 24,000 petrol powered Indian Bajaj three wheelers annually, said Jagath Kulathunge, DPMC's Director (Marketing). He said that contrary to claims there was a good market here. "No one will import if there is no demand. Those who demand ban on import of three wheelers forget their crucial role in maintaining transport services in the city of Colombo and other main provincial towns." Kulathunge said that there was no need to stop importing two-stroke three wheelers when they meet the European Union standards. He accused the authorities for being lax with the emission standards for diesel vehicles which are more harmful to the environment. Project Director to AirMac B.M.S. Batagoda charged that DPMC was misleading the public by advertising that two-stroke three-wheelers meet European Union standards. "European Union regulations for three wheelers are comparatively lax, as they are not a significant source of emissions in Europe, but here it is not so. Since the great majority of three wheelers sold in Sri Lanka are of Indian origin, it would be reasonable for the country to adopt the stronger Indian emission standards or formulate Sri Lankan standards," he explained. Although the purchasing price of vehicles with four-stroke engines is somewhat higher, they are said to typically use 20 - 33 per cent less fuel, so that the initial costs are more than compensated for by fuel cost savings over the vehicle's life. Particulate and hydrocarbon emissions from four-stroke engines are typically 90 per cent less than those from two-stroke vehicles, making them more environment friendly. Kulathunge argued that two-stroke vehicles have low hydrocarbon emission but on the other hand they emit a high percentage of carbon monoxides and other noxious particles. "Experts believe that technological advancements are possible with two-stroke vehicles." He further stated that the unburnt fuel percentage was not as high as the one third figure given by authorities but only 15 per cent. However one may ask why the worldwide motor industry increasingly seeks to replace two-stroke engines with the cleaner four-strokes. According to DPMC, Bajaj produces both four-stroke and two-stroke three-wheelers to be sold in India, which comply with stringent Indian emission standards. But their agents in Sri Lanka continue to import two-stroke three-wheelers that only meet 9000 ppmv/v standards, taking advantage of the Sri Lanka's lax standards. Sri Lanka represents more than 95 per cent of the market for Bajaj India. Although the price difference between two-stroke and four-stroke three wheelers in Sri Lanka is about SL Rs. 20,000 - 25,000, the price difference in Delhi is about around SL Rs. 8,800. The present Sri Lankan emission standard for three-wheelers is 9000 parts of Hydrocarbon per million by volume (ppm v/v). "Because of the debate on the ban on three-wheelers, implementation of vehicular exhaust emission standards has dragged on since 2002," said Dr. Batagoda. "We held 40 meetings with stakeholders, even top officials from Bajaj, India company came here with their demands. Finally we had to bow down to them, due to political interference and coercion," he said. Bangladesh, Nepal and India have completely banned two-stroke three-wheelers in the capitals. In Mumbai too they are totally banned while a ban is pending in Calcutta. In other cities in India the emission standards are 6000 (ppm v/v). Thailand and Cambodia have 3000 (ppm v/v) standards. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
